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Necessity leads team ropers to championship

Call them the accidental champions. Both came to the Northern Rodeo Associations Finals pushing for a championship, but how many team roping pairs can count on one hand the number of NRA rodeos they won checks at and still have some fingers left over?

Just one for the 2007 NRA season: Jason Handy and Charlie Lenning.

Despite not joining forces until late July, the two knew how to maximize their rodeos.

Handy and Lenning won the team roping at MontanaFair last August at MetraPark Arena in Billings for $1,117 and added another $1,010 at the Labor Day weekend rodeo in Hamilton.

Six months later, the two returned to MetraPark Arena to win another $2,449 over three nights and the year-end team roping championships. Handy, of Worden, won the team roping heading title, while Lenning won his second team roping heeling championship.

Handy opened the 2007 NRA season roping with Chase Gauger, while Lenning was with Brady Tryan. Needing roping partners in the middle of the summer, Handy and Lenning threw in together.

"We had done a couple of jackpots together," Handy said of roping with Lenning before.

They were on their way to a Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit rodeo in Libby when they decided to pull off the road and enter NRA rodeos in Lewistown, Columbia Falls and Eureka.

"My last NRA rodeo was about 15 years ago," said Handy with a smile. "It was nice to get a title out of this."

The win at Billings put them firmly in the top 10 and the finish at Hamilton put them within striking distance of standings leaders Mark Salmond and Sam Levine.

Handy and Lenning tapped into their win at Billings in August when the NRA Finals started.

"It helps because you know the arena, you know the stock," said Lenning.

Handy was aboard his horse Erkel, "I raised him myself," he said, while Lenning rode Waylon, owned by his grandfather Duane Lenning.

Usually a cowboy has to pay the owner of a horse a small fee when used in a rodeo.

"I've had him for a long time, I hope he (his grandfather) doesn't ask," Lenning said with a smile. "I'm happy to win another title. And this rodeo is important, money-wise."

• • •

Jordan Harmon is no longer the bridesmaid.

Then again, the Twin Bridges cowboy might look a little funny in a fuscia-colored dress,

After enough runner-up finishes to frustrate even the best competitor, Harmon won his first NRA saddle bronc title Saturday night.

"I've got plenty of second-place finishes, I've wanted a championship saddle for a long time," said the happy Harmon. "I've been second four, five times. This means quite a bit to me."

Harmon, who turns 31 on Feb. 25, placed third, first and second in the three rounds to easily win the average by nine points.

He came to Billings third in the standings, but won $2,296 over the three performances to vault over Ace Mills and regular-season leader Boe Reeverts in the final standings.

"I've been in both spots," Harmon said. "One year, I came here with a $1,000 lead and let the pressure get to me. I just vapor locked.

"This year, I came in relaxed. I decided to let the other guys worry about the pressure. I had nothing to lose and decided to let things roll and see what happens."

One of the first to congratulate Harmon was Reeverts, who won no money at the Finals.

"Boe and I are friends ... we're all friends out here," said Harmon. "He was one of the first guys to shake my hand, like I would do for him. You don't like to chase a guy down, but you hate it when it happens to you.

"It feels pretty good to get this title."

• • •

Shelley Murphy of Helena had the all-around cowgirl and barrel racing titles clinched before the end of the regular season last summer. Now trying to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, Murphy took a break from her schedule to travel from Texas to Billings and compete in the barrel racing on borrowed horses.

Why not stay south?

"Because of respect for the other competitors," said Murphy, who did not earn any money. "And I have respect for the NRA and what a great organization it is. All the barrel racers have tremendous respect for each other. Everybody works hard to get to the Finals. Everybody who is at the Finals deserves to be there.

"It wouldn't be right not to show up."

Murphy was scheduled to compete in Tuscon, Ariz., Sunday afternoon.

• • •

Annie Novotny knows how to celebrate a birthday.

The same day the Helena cowgirl turned 18, she also won the average for the NRA Finals barrel racing. Novotny earned a healthy $2,296.

• •

While the NRA Finals was about cowboys and cowgirls, it was the final bull of Saturday night that stole the show.

Reinke Pale Face, the 2007 NRA bull of the year, had rider Bob Voegel get hung up for a few scary moments while scattering the personnel in the arena. The bull then bulldozed both bullfighters, Shannon Wortman and Shawn Penrod, leaving both bruised and one bloodied.

The bull finally settled down and left the arena to close the 33rd edition of the NRA Finals.

Read more at the www.billingsgazette.net